History of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar (Uttarakhand) - Part 71

Life and Life Style in Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar (Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature

 

History of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar (Uttarakhand) - Part 71  

 

Historical Aspects of Classical Period of Haridwar -Kumaon-Garhwal (Uttarakhand), Himalayas-13   

 

Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar (Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature- part -11

 

(This History chapter up is dedicated to great historian Dr Shiv Prasad Dabral, Rahul Sankrityayan, Garhwali poet Sada Nand Jakhmola, Editor of Satyapath, Lalita Prasad Naithani, Dr. Shiva Nand Nautiyal, Kunvar Singh Negi, 'Karmath', Srimati Kamla Ratnam, Banarasi Das Chaturvedi , Dr. Mayaram Uniyal  who did sound research on Kalidasa literature and Life)

 

                                                       By: Bhishma Kukreti

 

                 Kalidasa less mentioned about the common society of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar (Uttarakhand) in his Literature. However, Kalidasa paid more attention on Ashrams of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar (Uttarakhand) in his Literature.

 

           Population of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar (Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature

 

             Kalidasa describes that there were hundreds of sages, teachers, learned men, students in Kanvashram (Meghdootam). Kalidasa did not mention about numbers in other Ashrams.  It is clear that there were villages around Ashrams as sages, teachers, learned men and students needed food and other necessary articles those would come from villages only. That shows that plains of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar (Uttarakhand) in his Literature were densely populated.

  The huts of plains of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar (Uttarakhand) were made by mud and grass. The houses in hills of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar (Uttarakhand) were built by stones, mud and wood. There was custom of domestication of animals. Gardens and kitchen gardens near house was common factor in Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar (Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Age.

 

Dressing and Ornaments in Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar (Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature

 

              Kalidas describes the ornaments of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar (Uttarakhand) in his literature. The major ornaments were made by grass, plants, leaves, stems and flowers.

          The rich men used to have metal ornaments too. The rich women used to do fine make up. There were various kinds of paste, perfume and herbal products available for makeup.

         The common men had simple dresses and rich men had costly dresses. The common men and students used to put on clothing of tree bark or other plant materials. Uses of fibrous plants for dress material were common among all Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar (Uttarakhand) at Kalidasa time.

            Kalidasa describes wooden, mud and metal vessels in Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar (Uttarakhand) in his literature.

 

               Language of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar (Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature

 

 

 There were two types of languages in society. The elite specially sages, students and kings used to speak in Sanskrit. The common men had their own local language (Prakrit). However, both the classes understood each other's languages.

 There were following main local languages in Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar (Uttarakhand).

Khas language -Shakuntala's community used to speak Khas language.

Kinnari language- Perhaps this was Kinnari language of north Garhwal.

Kirati language- The language seems to be same as Kinnari language Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar (Uttarakhand) of Kalidasa Age.

Utsav Sanket language- It seems there was a dialect Utsav Sanket language spoken by minority population in Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar (Uttarakhand) of Kalidasa Age.

Old Tibetan Language- Certainly there were certain Tibetan dialects spoken in north Himachal, Garhwal and Kumaon at Kalidasa time.

 

 

Religious Faith of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar (Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature

        Kalidasa describes in details about religious faith of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar (Uttarakhand) in his literature.

   The strong caste system persisted in Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar (Uttarakhand) at the time of Kalidas.

         People used to believe on luck.

               The people used to perform rituals for pacifying stars. Pilgrimage was one of the medium of satisfying stars.

   The people used to believe on purity or virtuousness of water and Ganga-Jamuna water.

 The society used to worship images. Idols were now common. People used to offer flowers, plants, food articles and other articles to deities. There were many images or symbols of auspiciousness as lotus, Vasu, Khsetrapal, lion etc.

 

 

Medium of Entertainment in Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar (Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature

 

        Classical and fine art was common in Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar (Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Age.

        Music and dance was one of the medium of entertainment in Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar (Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Age.

          Poetry creation was also common among common people in Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar (Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Age.

    Toys were made by mud, wood and metal in Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar (Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Age.

        Swimming was one of the medium of entertainments in Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar (Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Age.

  Animal cart driving had specific purpose too.

Hunting by kings was common in Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar (Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Age.

 If there were battles and attacks then there was surely the war training and war based entertainment custom in Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar.  

 

           Family System in Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar (Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature

 

 Joint family and big family system was common system.

The servants were supposed to be part of family.

Respect to elders, learned men, Guru, pundits was a social norm.

Orphans were took care by society.

Elite used to arrange for education to their daughters and sons in equal terms.

Daughters were married at young age.

Love marriage and arranged marriage were commonly respected.

Multiple wives was a common system.

The women had more social responsibilities.

 Tapswee had respectful place in the society.

Many Tapswee also used to obey chastity.

Yoga was commonly performed by Tapswees.

 

 Habits of Hill people of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar (Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature

 

 Hill people were simple and used to believe on others.

Hill people believe in telling the truth with sweetness.

Hill people used to believe on freedom and peaceful life.

Hill people were unaware of deceiving, stabbing from back.

Hill people believe in abiding promises.

Hill people were cautious to meet cunning and extrovert people of other regions.

Hill people were unaware about deceptive diplomacy.

Hill people were simple and they believe in accepting mistakes and forgiving others.

 

Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar (Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature to be continued part -12...

 

 

Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti 13/06/2013

 

(The History of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar write up is aimed for general readers)

 

History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand) to be continued… Part -72

Historical Aspects of -Classical Period of Haridwar -Kumaon-Garhwal (Uttarakhand), Himalayas to be continued…14 

Major Reference- Dr.Shiv Prasad Dabral, 1968, Uttarakhand ka Itihas part – 3, pages 310-336, Veer Gatha press, Dogadda, Garhwal, India

 

 

History Aspects of- Life and Life Style in Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar (Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature; Life and Life Style in Kankhal, Haridwar (Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature; Life and Life Style in Chamoli Garhwal (Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature; Life and Life Style in Garhwal (Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature; Life and Life Style in Rudraprayag, Garhwal (Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature; Life and Life Style in Uttarkashi, Garhwal (Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature; Life and Life Style in Tehri Garhwal (Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature; Life and Life Style in Pauri Garhwal (Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature; Life and Life Style in Dehradun Garhwal (Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature; Life and Life Style in Udham Singh Nagar ,Kumaon  (Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature; Life and Life Style in Nainital, Kumaon  (Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature; Life and Life Style in Almora, Kumaon  (Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature; Life and Life Style in Kumaon  (Uttarakhand) in Bageshwar, Kalidasa Literature; Life and Life Style in Champawat, Kumaon  (Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature; Life and Life Style in Pithoragarh, Kumaon  (Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature to be continued…

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Regards
Bhishma  Kukreti